The heroic pilot appeared on TV from the hospital: "Despite the injuries, I told myself I must act — and I opened the door"

Captain Smith Machchar of the Fly Dubai flight, who was stabbed by the Omani co-pilot, appeared from the hospital in a conversation with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The pilot recounted that despite his injuries, he pushed himself to open the cockpit door. Modi praised his courage, and the Gujarat government announced it would award him a commendation.

Captain Smith Machchar of the Fly Dubai flight, who was hospitalized yesterday (Thursday) in a hospital in the United Arab Emirates, appeared today for the first time in footage from the hospital in a conversation with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Indian pilot was stabbed by the Omani co-pilot during an attempted attack on the flight. In the conversation, Machchar recounted: "I had so many injuries, but I told myself — I must get up and act. At that moment, I pushed myself to open the cockpit door." Modi praised him: "The entire country is praying for you. Your courage, composure, and calmness saved many lives. The country can proudly say that Indians are not people who take lives — but people who are willing to risk their lives to save others." In India, it was reported that Machchar underwent emergency surgery at the hospital in the city of Tabuk where the plane landed, and his family made their way to Dubai from Mumbai. The government of the state of Gujarat in India announced that it would award a commendation to the captain. Bhupendra Patel, Chief Minister of Gujarat, praised the pilot for "unwavering courage."

The heroic pilot appeared on TV from the hospital: "Despite the injuries, I told myself I must act — and I opened the door"